SQM looks to fill van Eyk void
In yet more fall-out from the collapse of research and ratings house, van Eyk, property-focused research firm, SQM Research has announced an expansion of its funds research to include alternative assets and fixed income.
At the same time, the company said it was considering reaching into equities.
In an announcement released today, the company said it planned to appoint experienced individuals to research the specialist sectors and claimed this would mean SQM Research would be the only research house that offered services on both funds research and residential property data.
"Bearing in mind the recent take-over of van Eyk's iRrate platform by competing research house Lonsec, in what appears to be a bid to eradicate competition, SQM Research would like to make clear that it would be wrong to suggest that as a result of the buy-out, competition in the space has decreased completely, and the company looks forward to continuing to be a major player in the research space in the coming year," the SQM announcement said.
SQM managing director, Louis Christopher said the company believed a gap had opened up with the "unfortunate demise of van Eyk".
"With this, our goal is to be the most recognised and respected specialist investment research house in Australia," he said.
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